Invincible Starts From Dao Fruit

"The Fourth-order is within grasp in the Dao Fruit World."

"I need to intensify my efforts in reality as well."

Chen Jichuan rose and departed from the cave dwelling.

With a flicker of transformation, he became a middle-aged Daoist of rugged and imposing demeanor, clothed in a fiery red Daoist robe.

He identified his direction.

And sped straight toward the Dragon Tail Domain.

…

The Dragon Tail Domain.

Hegang Realm.

Chen Jichuan constructed a 'Small Sumeru Right and Left Nine Palace Immortal Formation,' embedding it within White Spirit Mountain.

On this day.

White Spirit Mountain.

Woo~ Woo~ Woo~

Hoo~ Hoo~ Hoo~

A sudden gust of wind rose in the mountain, whistling through, stirring the grasses and trees in chorus.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Under the blazing sun, the wind swept in scorching waves, ushering layers upon layers of dark clouds. The clouds thickened and amassed, ultimately concealing the sun and pressing heavily toward White Spirit Mountain.

Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!

Cheep! Cheep! Cheep!

The creatures within the mountain scattered, and birds fled en masse.

The oppressive force descending from the heavens was unbearable for ordinary living beings, leaving them only the option of escape. Even Second-order True Persons struggled under this pressure; staying underneath meant suffocating.

Chen Jichuan remained unperturbed.

Sitting cross-legged atop White Spirit Mountain, he calmly awaited the descent of the Divinity Transformation Tribulation.

It had been over ten years since he had transformed into 'Wuhe Daoist,' amassing resources through widespread trades with the major sects across the four domains of Panlong Mountain.

Ten years ago.

Chen Jichuan had withdrawn hastily, evading peril in the Qilin Mountain of the Starry Sky World.

At that time, he'd only just breached the Fourth Realm of Enlightenment in reality.

In merely three years.

When he re-entered the Starry Sky World, he was already in the Seventh Realm of Enlightenment.

Another seven years passed in a flash, allowing Chen Jichuan's cultivation to soar, relying on resources obtained from various sects.

The Eighth Realm of Enlightenment.

The Ninth Realm of Enlightenment.

The Tenth Realm of Enlightenment.

Upon completing this cycle in the Starry Sky World, he had reached the Second-order Peak.

Until now.

The arrival of the Six-nine Heavenly Tribulation marked the moment to attain Divinity Transformation.

…

"Six-nine Heavenly Tribulation!"

"Third-order Divinity Transformation!"

Chen Jichuan awaited the culmination of the tribulation, his heart filled with profound emotions.

The ebb and flow of white clouds, the relentless march of time—it all passed in a flash, spanning seven distinct worlds—

The Great Yann World.

The Da Liang World.

The Jade Spring World.

The Qinling World.

The Great Hui World.

The Central Continent World.

The Starry Sky World.

Wandering through seven worlds, since he first entered the Great Yann World, thirty-two years had elapsed in reality, while thirty-two thousand years had passed in the Dao Fruit World.

"I awakened the 'Dao Fruit' at eighteen and entered the Great Yann World."

"Following an unremarkable path throughout."

"And now, I've finally reached Divinity Transformation."

Faced with the fearsome tribulation that made even Second-order Peak cultivators tremble, Chen Jichuan remained serene, his mind wandering to reflect on other matters.

The Heavenly Tribulation was indeed fearsome.

But Chen Jichuan had already experienced one in the Starry Sky World and felt far more confident this time.

Six years of servitude.

Thirty-two years of painstaking cultivation.

Thirty-two thousand years of time passed.

Until today, both in the Dao Fruit World and in reality, achievements had finally been made.

"Fetal Breath."

"Postnatal."

"Innate."

"Qi Refinement."

"Enlightenment."

"Divinity Transformation."

Reflecting back, each step of the journey had been arduous yet marked by steady progress.

At present, the Dao Fruit World capped him at the peak of Divinity Transformation, while in reality, he was on the brink of stepping into the Divinity Transformation Realm. With Divinity Transformation providing a lifespan of five thousand years, Chen Jichuan was confident he could achieve Fourth-order in the Dao Fruit World before his lifespan ran out.

"Still."

"Reality's cultivation level is fast approaching, and progress in the Dao Fruit World must not stagnate."

Chen Jichuan contemplated inwardly, a sense of urgency brewing.

Previously, the slow advancement in reality's cultivation compared to the Dao Fruit World often left him impatient.

Now, as reality's cultivation rapidly closed the gap, a new kind of impatience surfaced.

"Ideally, reality's cultivation level should always lag one tier behind that of the Dao Fruit World."

"In this way, the experience gained in the Dao Fruit World can be better assimilated into progress in reality, and the pitfalls encountered in cultivation can be reevaluated and avoided with the perspective of a higher realm."

"Correcting errors in the Dao Fruit World is manageable, but making them in reality is far more troublesome."

"The two realms' cultivation progression must not be too tightly aligned!"

Chen Jichuan planned to slow down his cultivation pace once he broke through to Divinity Transformation in reality, shifting his focus to consolidation and expansion.

When the cycle in the Starry Sky World ended and he ascended to Fourth-order, crafting 'Dao Fruit' and absorbing both his main and auxiliary 'Dao Fruits,' he would refine and consolidate the stages of Mortal, Qi Refinement, Enlightenment, and Divinity Transformation thoroughly before commencing Fourth-order-level cultivation.

This would ensure he avoided the irreparable consequences of rash mistakes wrought by seeking too swift progress.

"Swiftness tempered by stability!"

Chen Jichuan carried an inner metric, maintaining an acute sense of balance.

…

Time swept by.

The tribulation clouds consolidated.

The scale of the Six-nine Heavenly Tribulation was monumental; even the mere initial gathering and accumulation were orchestrated with vast intensity.

The commotion alarmed surrounding cultivators.

One day.

Two days.

Three days.

Clustering around White Spirit Mountain, cultivators from the vicinity arrived to observe from afar, each sporting startled expressions.

"The Six-nine Heavenly Tribulation?!"

"Someone's about to ascend to Divinity Transformation!"

"A thousand years have passed since Panlong Mountain last had a new Divinity Transformation. Who could it be?"

"Of the seventeen permanent Peak True Persons in the Dragon Tail Domain, none have been known to train at Hegang Realm, especially atop White Spirit Mountain."

"Could it be a traveling True Person?"

…

The gathered cultivators gazed toward White Spirit Mountain, speculating wildly about who might be undergoing tribulation.

Unfortunately, the pressure of tribulation clouds thwarted their senses of perception, leaving the identity of the one undergoing tribulation concealed.

Only idle conjecture ensued.

Time passed.

By the sixth day.

This day.

Outside White Spirit Mountain, atop a tuft of white clouds, a figure transitioned from ethereal to tangible, revealing a white-haired middle-aged person.

On his back, he carried a treasure sword.

This was none other than Grandmaster Wul.

"The Six-nine Heavenly Tribulation!"

"After a thousand years, Panlong Mountain will finally welcome another Divinity Transformation!"

Grandmaster Wul gazed toward the peak of White Spirit Mountain. At first, delight danced in his heart, but upon recognizing the seated figure at the summit, his brows lifted slightly—not in overt surprise, merely complemented by a faint smile. "As I thought—it's him!"

Grandmaster Wul's thoughts converged.

With the tribulation clouds dense and the Heavenly Tribulation nearing, he fluttered his wide sleeves, dropping several strands of jade light toward White Spirit Mountain's summit while channeling his voice: "The jade bottles contain pills for restoring mana and repairing the body; the Heavenly Tribulation is perilous, Daoist, do not decline—overcoming the tribulation takes precedence."

Having endured the Six-nine Heavenly Tribulation himself, Grandmaster Wul understood its gravity and extended aid reflexively.

…

Name: Wul Ming

Age: 2,520

Cultivation: Divinity Transformation·Primordial Unity Realm Third Layer

Cultivation Technique: "Sword Map"

Magic: Heavenly Gang Sword Shield, Earth Evil Sword Map, Nine Luminaries Flying Body Technique, ..., omitted

…

"Two thousand five hundred and twenty years old."

"Primordial Unity Realm Third Layer under Divinity Transformation."

"Given Panlong Mountain's meager resources, for someone like Grandmaster Wul to attain this stage at his age signals either unparalleled natural talent or significant fortunes found in Panlong Mountain's outer Mysterious Realm."

Within White Spirit Mountain.

When Wul Ming first arrived, Chen Jichuan immediately sensed him, instantly gleaning insights into his essence.

An Old Ancestor of the Ten Thousand Sword Sect.

Divinity Transformation practitioner within Panlong Mountain.

Chen Jichuan had originally planned to seek contact following his tribulation.

Unexpectedly, Wul Ming made the gesture of gifting pills proactively!

To Chen Jichuan, these pills seemed rather commonplace; still, aware of Panlong Mountain's resource scarcity, he understood their significant worth to Divinity Transformation cultivators within the region.

Though he and Wul Ming were strangers, the other's generosity warranted gratitude.

"Thank you, Daoist."

Chen Jichuan stood and accepted the pills, bowing toward Wul Ming outside the mountain.

Although the pills were of no practical use to him, he graciously received them, moved by Wul Ming's goodwill.

By now, Chen Jichuan had grasped almost all essentials regarding Panlong Mountain's conditions.

Upon ascending to Divinity Transformation, he would possess sufficient presence to navigate Panlong Mountain freely, unafraid of seasoned Divinity Transformation cultivators like Wul Ming.

But as cultivation advanced, the more vital resources required for future practice, pill refining, and artifact forging grew increasingly challenging to obtain.

It's not just about 'quantity.'

The critical aspect lies in 'quality.'

"High-order Spirit Medicine."

"High-level Refining Materials."

"Such rare treasures are exceedingly difficult to find in Panlong Mountain."

Take refining materials, for instance.

A few Third-order materials were relatively accessible.

Chen Jichuan had scoured Panlong Mountain extensively, trading with various sects to gather enough to upgrade the 'Inverted Eight Gates Immortal Suppression Banner' to Third-order.

But subsequent Third-order materials proved scarce.

Consequently, the refinement of artifacts such as the Five Thunders Hurricane Mother Car, Taiyin Qingling Bamboo Leaf Divine Talisman, Ten Thousand Leaf Sword River, Three Flowers Divine Shuttle, and Fire Dragon Immortal Banner had significantly slowed.

Over the past several years.

No other artifact had yet achieved Third-order status.

"Without materials, even the most skillful artisan is defenseless!"

While Chen Jichuan's skill excelled, a lack of materials hampered progress.

Such resources were nearly impossible to procure in large quantities from sects outside the four Great Immortal Sects within Panlong Mountain.

Interaction with Divinity Transformation cultivators seemed unavoidable.

"After becoming a Divinity Transformation, venturing into the Mysterious Realms is imperative."

"Wul Ming and others, having achieved Divinity Transformation long ago, surely possess deeper insights and more thorough maps of the Mysterious Realms."

Engaging with Divinity Transformation cultivators—

Gathering information about the Mysterious Realms was one goal.

But the primary motivation was acquiring refining materials.

"Other artifacts can wait."

"But the 'Ten Thousand Demon List' should ideally be refined as soon as possible."

Chen Jichuan had started collecting materials for the 'Ten Thousand Demon List' six years back, but six key components remained missing to this day.

This artifact held significant bearings on his future; delaying further was unwise.

Thus.

Wul Ming expressed goodwill, and Chen Jichuan eagerly welcomed it.

He gestured to Wul Ming outside the mountain in acknowledgment, offering preliminary thanks.

Soon, the tribulation clouds churned, completing their preparation—

Rumble!

Tribulation thunder roared.

The tribulation descended.

…

Outside White Spirit Mountain.

Wul Ming observed the tribulation, his expression devoid of apprehension.

Though he wished to see 'Wuhe Daoist' overcome the tribulation, even failure wouldn't concern him deeply; the mere loss of a few bottles of hard-to-find pills was hardly consequential.

"Success would be better."

"Another Divinity Transformation in Panlong Mountain would offer an additional ally in exploring the Mysterious Realms and seeking paths forward."

Wul Ming harbored an eagerness but also concealed other thoughts: "Anyone able to casually produce hundreds of high-level techniques must harbor some hidden secret—there could be unexpected benefits awaiting."

With such musings.

He quietly observed the tribulation.

Suddenly.

"Hmm?"

"Hiss!"

Wul Ming's eyes widened, his breath caught involuntarily.

From the summit of White Spirit Mountain, a figure vaulted skyward and plunged directly into the midst of the tribulation cloud.

Howling winds!

Rolling thunder!

Wul Ming's expression shifted. He scrutinized the heavens filled with clouds, and through the thunderclouds, he faintly discerned a figure standing poised—

Displaying composure.

Exuding relaxation.

Radiating carefree confidence.

Hardly resembling someone braving tribulation, instead mirroring one savoring a serene bath.

Crackle!

Boom!

Bolts of tribulation thunder crashed onto his body, lightning arcs scattering in bursts, thunderclaps roaring symphonically—yet he stood utterly unmoved.

His physique emerged wholly unaffected.

"This—"

Wul Ming's thoughts ground to a halt, leaving him stupefied.

Faintly.

Amid the tribulation clouds and thunder, shrill birdsong echoed. A Vermilion Bird seemed to take shape, devouring bolts of tribulation thunder whole. Elsewhere, flames erupted toward the heavens, threatening to combust the cloud formations and shatter the cosmic vault.

Dark clouds drooped low.

The sky hung precariously.

The apocalyptic spectacle unfolded—thunder roared ferociously, endlessly striking down, as though intent on pulverizing this piece of world to dust—manifesting the destructive force of annihilation.

Yet, in the end, its potency fell short.

The tribulation completed six cycles, releasing fifty-four bolts of thunder. The tribulation clouds fumed defiantly but, obeying the laws of nature, gradually dissipated.

In an instant—

The winds ceased.

The darkness withdrew.

The thunder and rain subsided.

Sunshine again graced the realm.

From the azure firmament, a middle-aged Daoist descended gracefully. Remarkably unscathed by the Six-nine Heavenly Tribulation, he even exuded an air of effortless aplomb. Landing at the mountain summit, he bowed toward the distant sky and called aloud, his voice resonant: "This humble Daoist, Wuhe, pays respects to Daoist Wul!"

…

PS: The next Dao Fruit World is ready, but I haven't finalized the one following that yet. On my WeChat account, 'Author Demon Monk,' I've conducted a poll; feel free to vote so I can start preparing the settings and outline earlier. [Today's single chapter got butchered, can't believe it!][Just search 'Author Demon Monk' on WeChat!]